Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone refused to give up on his side s Champions League hopes despite a crushing 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their semi-final tie with city rivals Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo thrilled the Santiago Bernabeu with another hat-trick to follow the treble that downed Bayern Munich in the previous round.
It means next week s second leg, a match that will be the last European match played at Atletico s Vicente Calderon, should be a formality for Zinedine Zidane s men.
However, despite the weighty deficit leaving Atletico staring at heartache to go with the 2014 and 2016 final defeats to Madrid – their neighbours also prevailed in a 2015 quarter-final – Simeone retained a steely determination in the face of his team s famed def…
Antonio Conte acknowledged Tottenham must do better in big games after they were beaten 2-0 at Manchester United.
Goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes condemned Conte s side to only their second Premier League defeat of the season, having also been beaten 3-1 at leaders Arsenal earlier this month.
Spurs have made an otherwise impressive start to the campaign and still sit third in the table, level on points with second-placed Manchester City and three ahead of Chelsea in fourth, albeit having played a game more than both.
However, speaking to Amazon Prime, Conte pointed to the difference in spending power between his club and United, who forked out more than anyone in England in the last transfer window to bring in the likes of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Anto…
Italian international midfielder Alberto Aquilani is welcome back at Anfield, according to Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.
The Italian international has spent the season on loan in the Serie A with Juventus, who are keen to make the move permanent.
But Juve have refused to pay the 14 million pound transfer fee for the 26-year-old that they negotiated with the Reds last August.
When people talk about next season, I’m surprised they don’t give Alberto a mention, Dalglish told the Liverpool Echo.
Everyone seems to have forgotten about him.
“I know he has done really well at Juventus this season.
When the loan finishes at the end of the season, he reverts back to being a Liverpool player.
Nothing is cast in stone and he…
Carlos Queiroz put an end to speculation surrounding his future by signing a new four-deal to remain coach of Iran.
Queiroz stated his intention to step down as coach at the end of the World Cup in Brazil and he was linked with a move to Leeds United, but the Portuguese boss has decided to continue in his role.
While the contract is through to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Queiroz will be assessed on Iran s performances at AFC Asian Cup in January before the Iran Football Federation (IFF) decide whether or not to stick with the 61-year-old.
This contract is in 3 stages, first the Asian Cup, said IFF president Ali Kafashian.
We shall analyse the results before deciding to continue with Queiroz or not.
Second, the qualification to the FIFA World …